How in the world? Dogs!

[nutmeggie]

There is front line and stuff like that for dogs but whats the best way to keep ticks off of humans. I have had 4 of them on me in the last week or so and I hate them. They haven't bitten me yet they have just been crawling on me. But I would like to keep them off of me. That is one of three things that make me jump up and down and freak out about.

 

[Biddieacres]

I think the only way to keep them off humans is to use DEET. The only thing is, deet is very strong and I don't think it is recommended for children. We spray it on the kids shoes instead of their skin. We put it on their shoes because I have heard they come from the ground up. I have talked to people who actually wear white knee socks over their pants so they can catch them walking up. You can find it in the store with the bug repellents.
When I find them I flush them down the toilet and even cover them with a piece of toilet paper and make sure they go down b/c I heard they can even jump out of the water. haha I am starting to sound a little tick crazy. Living in the Northeast we have a lot of them.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
They also will fall out of trees onto you. But they do come from the ground. after they suck a bunch of blood they fall off of whatever animal they were on and dig under ground to loose all of the "weight". then when they feel the heat of someone walking.. sitting etc. they come up out of the ground. (i watched it on. i believe the most extreme)

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
Tweezers are the only way to go.

 

[Velociraptor]

Yes Miss the North, Tweezers are the only way to go.

Pulling off with a firm steady force is the only safe method, all others are wives tales and will do more harm then good, the hot match and the others will make the tick regurgitate into the victim including any parasites in its gut. Tick removal solutions seem to be a ruse and have not found any that actually work or is sanctioned by a vet yet.

I personally use a curved hemostats that makes it a simple and painless process, most farm stores sell a little cup about the size of a tablespoon and has a small V notch cut into it so you can slowly rock the tick out. As said before it is not a great danger if mouth parts are left behind but if you do it slow enough it will pull out completely, the tick is actually cemented in so if you jerk it will break.
The only safe method of disposing of them beside complete pulverizing between 2 rocks is to put in alcohol, it is also a good idea to do that in case of illness the tick can be examined later for Lyme disease or spotted fever.

I think I have surpassed my one millionth lifetime tick removal this year, and now pull them off both me and the dog in my sleep.

 

[lilcountry]

I GOT THEM! The seed tick had gotten a little bigger and I tried the vasoline thing I think both helped get them off. At first my dog was so bummed I know it hurt, like pulling out an eyelash but worse! Then I think he was better b/c it was in his line of vision and I know that sucked! I was so glad I hate ticks too Ive had a few on me before but not in a while. We used to live on wooded lot, but now we dont. Rarely Ill flush them, I always burn them! They make me so mad. We dont get rough winters here at all so they can be bad! If we get one hard freeze or some good snow then we wont have problems with bugs the following spring and summer but we havent had hard winters in like I dont even know 5 years or something.

Thanks for all of your help!!!!

 

[ibpboo]

Good job!!